Super Battle Droid Builder - SW [S - P2] - Deluxe

Ten years after the fight to save Naboo from invasion, the galaxy is on the brink of civil war. Under the leadership of a renegade Jedi, thousands of solar systems threaten to secede from the Galactic Republic. A courageous Jedi Knight, his impulsive and headstrong apprentice, and a queen-turned-senator are drawn into the heart of the conflict... and the beginning of war.

The Super Battle Droids are used in battle by the Trade Federation. Assembled in a huge factory on the planet Geonosis, the Super Battle Droids are fearless and tireless. They will run at full speed into combat with cannons extended, firing until they have reduced their targets to smoldering ruins.

Does a Star Wars item made by Hasbro have to be screen accurate in order for it to be a good toy? That would be an unequivocal “no” if it’s something like the Super Battle Droid Builder from the Star Wars “Saga” Deluxe line. Admittedly, the Star Wars “Saga” was sensory overload. The pace that items had entered retail came at alarming levels and it was hard for anyone to organize. Then, with Hasbro changing the line look without reason twice from its original inception, it has been quite a task to keep the release schedule clear and concise. Now, imagine Hasbro throwing in a concept of their own into the mix? That’s where the Super Battle Droid Builder Deluxe set comes into play. Hasbro modernizes Play-Doh in a way that probably no Star Wars collector ever imagined. You actually have the opportunity to “build” your own Super Battle Droid in a section of the Droid Factory seen on Geonosis in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. While elements of the toy (which is really a small playset here) are clearly inspired by the Droid Factory on Geonosis, this is truly a Hasbro concept. And they have added a nice amount of play value because other Deluxe sets from the first phase of the Star Wars “Saga” line can be attached to it for more playing scenarios. It’s possibilities are nearly endless.

The Droid Factory Assembly Mold is quite a contraption. It has an upper and lower level, each of which allow you to form the top and bottom halves of Super Battle Droids, and thanks to the Quick-Steel Compound, you can complete the body portion of the Super Battle Droid shell that comes in this set. The design of the Droid Factory Assembly Mold is evidently inspired by various gears and conveyor parts seen in Episode II. And it looks like this actually belongs in the film. It’s been cast in various metallic colors and has excellent construction and can be assembled relatively easily right out of the packaging. What’s more, this allows you and or kids to build droids in a way that has never been done in the Star Wars line before. Alright, so it’s a little bit gimmicky, but we can’t help that we love this and appreciate the effort that went into it. For $9.99 you get a miniature version of a playset plus an all-new “figure” albeit missing its midsection, but this is a value no matter how you slice it. Eve if the compound gets used up, lost or just goes bad, you’re still left with a permanent toy that can be part of any Geonosis diorama set up you wish to put together. This is a niche item, but it’s truly done very well.

Even the included Super Battle Droid is a lot of fun here. It actually interacts with the Droid Factory Assembly Mold perfectly. The Super Battle Droid can lay on it’s back waiting to be imprinted with a midsection. Just look at our photo gallery and see just how amazing this interaction appears. It’s very realistic and while it looks inspired from the film, the Super Battle Droid can hold its own as an action figure, whether it’s complete or not. Would you believe the pack-in Super Battle Droid may be the best Super Battle Droid in the Star Wars “Saga” line? It has a whopping 10 points of articulation, but it’s most impressive aspect is that Hasbro included hinge-jointed ankles. You can pose this figure is so many cool ways thanks to that. Sadly, unless you have the Quick-Steel Compound fill the dead airspace in the torso of this figure, the Super Battle Droid is going to look a little bit too silly. Customizers are probably going to have a field day with this figure to improve versions Hasbro has already released to us. The Super Battle Droid also comes with an interchangeable right cannon arm as well as a projectile that you can fire from it, for extra play value. Part of the transitional second phase part of the Star Wars “Saga” line, the Deluxe figures in this assortment were a bit difficult to find at retail.